Mental health evaluations in Denver

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

This evidence-based program is an interactive therapy group, that targets unhealthy coping mechanisms and teaches behavioral change skills in the areas of addiction and emotional dysregulation. The program content is specifically focused on four areas: 1) mindfulness and self-awareness; 2) emotion regulation; 3) distress tolerance; 4) interpersonal effectiveness. The theoretical orientation of the program is cognitive/behavioral using material from Marsha Linehan’s Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, The Angry Heart: An Interactive Self-Help Guide to Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders, Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, and Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

Topics and skills:

  • Skills for decreasing interpersonal chaos and identifying relapse and emotional triggers
  • Components of the environment: physical reactions, thoughts, moods, behaviors
  • Connection of thoughts to moods, physical reactions, and behaviors
  • Skills for decreasing impulsiveness by identifying emotional vulnerability
  • Skills for decreasing cognitive and emotional dysregulation
  • Increasing interpersonal skills by balancing priorities and demands
  • Identifying cognitive distortions and faulty thinking
  • Identifying and modifying core beliefs about self, others, and the world
  • Problem-solving/decision-making methodology – making decisions from a balanced combination of a rational and emotional basis

This class has a 36-week format and each class combines state of the art information and experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning. Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

Cognitive Restructuring Therapy

This program was designed for anyone needing to improve their critical reasoning skills with the goal of improving the quality of their decisions and actions leading to outcomes that are more positive. The program content is specifically focused on four areas: 1) learning and improving cognitive skills; 2) improving the quality of decisions; 3) enhancing positive behaviors; 4) preventing alcohol/drug relapse and criminal behavior recidivism. The theoretical orientation of the program is cognitive/behavioral using material from the Beck Institute and concepts from Change Your Mind, Change Your Life by Dr. Daniel Amen.

Topics and Skills:

  • Definitions of: cognition; cognitive/behavioral therapy; emotions; core beliefs; automatic thoughts
  • Components of the environment: physical reaction, thoughts moods, behavior
  • Connection of thought to moods; physical reactions; behavior
  • Identifying and rating moods
  • How to change automatic thoughts
  • Evaluating thoughts by establishing evidence and information of or against their validity
  • How to think carefully, logically, and rationally
  • Identifying cognitive distortions and faulty thinking
  • Identifying and modifying core beliefs about self, about others, and the world
  • Problem-solving/decision-making methodology
  • Relapse and recidivism prevention

This class has a 24-week format and each class combines state of the art information with experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning. Each group length is approximately 2 hours.